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Having it "made in the shade" is great when it comes to relaxing in the garden, but making a great shade garden may be a little easier said than done.
Some want a shade garden at a newly constructed home where there is usually little or no shade. For others, shade is unwelcome.
Large trees growing on small lots may make it difficult to grow many favorite flowers.
Look at the geographical location before making your selection.One of the best shade-loving annual flowers is the impatiens. These are the most popular bedding plants in the country, and they surpassed petunias in popularity and sales a number of years ago.
This is due in large part because they bloom soon after they are planted and are self deadheading, so you do not have to remove the spent blossoms.
While plant breeders have created types that are more sun-tolerant, they are an excellent choice for shady areas in Utah. The plants come in many heights and sizes, and they are stellar performers as lower filler plants or as medium-size connecting plants.
Add coleus to the list of great showstoppers. These are not grown for their flowers but for the great foliage. Although sun-tolerant coleuses are now on the market, the traditional cultivars are excellent additions to great shade-tolerant flower gardens.
While these plants have varying sizes and textures, they remain one of the most colorful and versatile choices for local gardeners. Pinch the blossoms off to keep them full and bushy.
Plant breeders have introduced many new improvements into fibrous begonias in recent years. They are more disease-tolerant and even more sun-tolerant than previous types.
With red, pink, white and salmon colors and picotee edges on the flowers of those colors, they are even more versatile. Additionally, the foliage colors range from bright green to a rich copper to add more versatility.
Tuberous begonias are some of the most beautiful shade flowers in the garden. Many also have very exciting foliage colors and textures. These are not sun-tolerant and must be protected from hot winds.
There are many exciting shade-loving perennials. For interesting foliage, consider the Japanese painted fern or the Hakone grass. The rich textures and colors from these and many other ferns and grasses are welcome additions to a garden arena.
Add lamium — or deadnettle — as another must-have flower. New varieties include "Pink Nancy" and "White Nancy" as excellent choices.
Lamiastrum — or spotted deadnettle — is nearly the only shade-tolerant and drought-tolerant flower available.
Hostas are another very diverse group of shade-loving plants. Varieties spread from 4 inches to 4 feet, with a similar range of heights. The stunning foliage is what makes these plants so important in any shade garden.
Corydalis is a long-blooming shade perennial for Utah. Use the lutea or yellow species for the best performance. Brunnera is another old standby, but consider some of the new cultivars with variegated foliage, including "Jack Frost" or "Looking Glass."
Last but not least is my own personal favorite, bleeding hearts. Few flowers grow as large as quickly, and it is hard to find any with more exquisite blossoms. Plant some of these, and look for many other wonderful plants that will help with your made-in-the-shade garden.
